Evaporation Rates

[tstew]

I am planning on growing this year and would really appreciate anybody with a 3x10 up to a 4X12 posting what you are getting for evaporation rates with your rigs. Looking at growing but keeping boiling time reasonable. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Haynes Forest Products]

I have a 3X10 Waterloo small and I get about 140 GPH. I have a preheater that brings sap from 40 Degrees up to 80 and that is getting changed Im shooting for 150 Degrees into the flu pan. I think alot of variations can cause any set of pans to act differantly.Hood ,Arch ,pre heater,oil wood,

[Sugarmaker]

Wow that is a great rate on your 3 x 10
My old rig (3 x 10) only gets about 80-90 Gph.
Don't settle for 150 from the preheater when you can get 200 deg F. I consistently get 200 deg. from the preheater into the float box.

Regards,
Chris

[maple man-iac]

I run a very old crude 3x10 King. 6' syrup pan 4' flue. Wood fired bare bones 80 gph once it is up and running. Split small dry wood as much as I could fit in every five minutes. Good Luck. please do not try my pan configuration, very touchy drawing off that long pan at those insane temps.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Sugarmaker
What type of pre heater do you have? I had the typical 3/4 zigzag copper set over the flue pan about 2 1/2 X 3 but the condensate would drip back in the pans. Then put a steam hood on with the same heater but with a tray to catch the water it didnt get as hot. So now I have a coil in my stack that supplies 180 degree water thru a plate heat exchanger has a small circulator pump works good but my exchanger is only 5 plates. Going with a 40 to 50 plate next season and a bigger coil in the flue stack. Let me know what you think

[Brent]

For a maxed out 4 x 12, I spent and afternoon watching an oil fired rig with a new Leader Maxi-Flu and and RO that was eating 575 gallons an hour. AAAAAwwwwsome.

[Valley View Sugarhouse]

I have a bare bones 4X10, wood fired, 6' flue and 4' finish, no hood or preheater, and I can consistently do 120gph with softwood slabs.. add that to a 600 gph ro and you have about 500 gal of sap being processed a hour, and about 12.5 gal of syrup an hour..

[tstew]

Thanks for the input I appreciate it. You have been helpful. I am leaning towards a 4x12 with hood and preheater.

[brookledge]

A 4X12 is a very common size so if you find yourself needing to change again it will be very marketable.
Keith